Page 75 of My Salvation

“It’s like museum quiet,” Zoe said, looking down at her boys. Ame had claimed her left hand and Yuki her right.

Cas had fallen in love the second she saw them. “Remember, boys, you can come to Auntie Cas if someone is mean to you,” she reminded them.

“But Auntie Brie is the one with the gun,” Ame pointed out.

Cas nodded. “Fair point.” She looked up as if she were thinking. “Then how about I can be in charge of hugs? I’m pretty good at those.”

Ame blushed and ducked behind Zoe. When his little face popped back out, he nodded.

“You know, I wouldn’t mind eggs if they resulted in kids like you two,” she said wistfully.

“That shit blows my mind, girl,” Brie admitted.

Izzy shrugged. “Ten centimeters is ten centimeters, I guess.” She looked over to Cas. “How big of an egg?”

“No fuc…” She looked down at the boys. “No freaking idea.”

The women stayed close together while the men walked to the council hall to request a meeting.

“Hahaue, chichiue is back,” Yuki said, pointing to the council hall doorway.

The men walked over, each wearing varying degrees of frustration in their expressions.

She laid a hand over Priest’s heart when he joined them. “That bad?”

He gritted his teeth.

Ari answered for him. “They never registered his birth, so his request to secure a nest is taking longer. Honestly, I don’t think they know what to do.”

Gage glared at each passerby. “I knew your past, but to hear them so casually dismiss your very existence.” He turned to Ari. “The lions aren’t like this.”

Ari hissed at a male who was sneering at them, then turned to Gage. “Thank the gods for that.”

After a few minutes, a tall, dark-haired eagle-shifter walked toward them. “Priest Vi’Aerdan, correct?” he asked, emphasizing the last name.

Behind him, a radiant female watched them carefully. She was older like the male. Cas assumed both were Elders.

Priest nodded. “That is right.”

“I am Gaius Aquilina, Elder of the Eagles here in Éire Danu.” He took the hand of the woman behind him and gently pulled her to his side. “This is my mate Vesta.” The softened expression he had for his mate melted like snow in the sun when he turned back to Priest. “I hear that you have requested a nest. On what grounds?”

Priest wrapped his arm around Cas’ waist. “I have met my mate, and we have been discussing children. We thought it best to get this done sooner rather than later.”

Cas watched the two carefully. The man’s aura was painted in red, pain. His mate was a swirl of greens. Lime green for fear, emerald green for guilt, and the sickish yellow-green she associated with longing.

“Why should a nest go to a reject like you?” Gaius demanded.

“Da fuck?” Izzy whispered.

Cas later would not be able to recall rearing back and punching the Eagle Elder, but according to Brie, it was a perfect swing. She did remember seeing the blue expand over Priest’s heart, and the next thing she knew, she was moving.

Pain shot through her hand and up her arm. “He isn’t a reject! You’re just an asshole!” she screamed.

Gaius had taken a few steps back and had his head tilted back as he tried to staunch the flow of blood from his nose.

Turning to Priest, she held up her hand. “He hurt my hand!” she wailed and wept her tears of frustration.

It wasn’t fair that jerks like this had the power to hurt her mate so much.

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